Amendments to the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health from November 15, 2022 in Vietnam

Amendments to the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health from November 15, 2022 in Vietnam (Internet image)

On November 15, 2022, the Government issued Decree 95/2022/ND-CP regulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health.

1. Amendments to the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health from November 15, 2022 in Vietnam

Specifically, Article 3 of Decree 95/2022/ND-CP stipulates the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health as follows:

(1) Department of Health Insurance.

(2) Department Maternal Health and Children.

(3) Organization and Personnel Department.

(4) Department of Planning and Finance.

(5) Department of Legal Affairs.

(6) Department of International Cooperation.

(7) Ministry Office.

(8) Ministry Inspectorate.

(9) Administration of Science, Technology and Training.

(10) General Department of Preventive Medicine.

(11) Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control.

(12) Health Environment Management Agency.

(13) Department of Medical Services Administration.

(14) Traditional Medicine Administration of Vietnam.

(15) Drug Administration of Vietnam.

(16) Vietnam Food Administration.

(17) Department of Infrastructure and Medical Equipment.

(18) Population Department.

(19) Health Strategy and Policy Institute.

(20) National Health Information Center.

(21) Health and Lifestyle Newspapers.

The organizations specified in Clause (1) to Clause (18) above shall assist the Minister of Health of Vietnam in performing the state management functions; the organizations referred to in Clause (19) to Clause (21) are administrative units serving the Ministry of Health’s state management functions.

The Department of Planning and Finance is comprised of 5 divisions.

The Minister of Health of Vietnam shall request the Prime Minister to issue the list of other public administrative units affiliated to the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.

The Minister of Health of Vietnam shall stipulate functions, tasks, powers and organizational structures of its affiliated agencies.

2. Tasks and powers of the Ministry of Health in medical examination and treatment in Vietnam

According to Clause 6, Article 2 of Decree 95/2022/ND-CP, tasks and powers of the Ministry of Health regarding medical examination and treatment, rehabilitation, medical assessment, forensic examination and forensic psychiatric assessment include:

- Formulate and promulgate within its competence or request competent authorities to promulgate specialized regulations, national standards, national technical regulations, economic - technical norms and quality criteria in the following fields: medical examination and treatment, blood transfusion safety, nursing, rehabilitation, clinical nutrition, infection control; cosmetic surgery; donation, receipt and transplantation of human organs and tissues; medical assessment, forensic examination, and forensic psychiatric assessment in accordance with regulations of law;

- Consider giving approval of the planning for the system of specialized health facilities; promulgate detailed regulations on determination of technical and professional levels of health facilities;

- Manage the issuance, re-issuance and revocation of practicing certificates and licenses in medical examination and treatment sector; organize the issuance, modification, re-issuance and revocation of practicing certificates of persons working in its affiliated health facilities, and those working in health facilities affiliated to other ministries (except the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam), and foreigners practicing in health sector in Vietnam; issue, re-issue, modify and revoke operating licenses of its affiliated health facilities, private hospitals or health facilities affiliated to other ministries (except the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam) in accordance with regulations of law;

- Appraise and give permission to health facilities to adopt new medical techniques or procedures which are applied in Vietnam for the first time in accordance with regulations of law;

- Issue certificates of approval of advertising contents for medical examination and treatment services within its competence in accordance with regulations of law;

- Play the leading role and cooperate with relevant ministries to perform state management of prices of medical services in accordance with regulations of law;

- Direct, instruct and inspect the implementation of legislative documents, specialized regulations, national standards and national technical regulations on medical examination and treatment, rehabilitation, cosmetic surgery, medical assessment, forensic examination and forensic psychiatric assessment.

3. Tasks and powers of the Ministry of Health regarding health insurance in Vietnam

Clause 12, Article 2 of Decree 95/2022/ND-CP stipulates related to health insurance in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has the following tasks and powers:

- Formulate and promulgate or request competent authorities to promulgate legislative documents, mechanisms and policies on health insurance;

- Play the leading role and cooperate with relevant ministries and regulatory authorities in promulgating the list of covered drugs, chemicals, medical supplies and medical technical services, payment percentage and conditions;

- Promulgate the basic health services package covered by the health insurance fund;

- Promulgate specific regulations on medical procedures, medical examination and treatment process, referrals between health facilities covered by the health insurance fund;

- Play the leading role and cooperate with the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam in promulgating the bracket of prices of covered health services which shall be consistently applied by same-level hospitals nationwide;

- Formulate and request competent authorities to promulgate solutions for ensuring the balance of the health insurance fund;

- Direct, instruct and inspect the implementation of regulations of the law on health insurance by health facilities and relevant entities.

Decree 95/2022/ND-CP takes effect on November 15, 2022 and replaces Decree 75/2017/ND-CP.

Nhu Mai

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